BUG: Terminal Font at 6 Point Size in List Box Grows in Size

• Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.6, 2.6a
• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, versions 3.0, 3.0b, 5.0, 5.0a

SYMPTOMS

When an OEM Terminal font 6 point size is used as the screen font, large amounts of text displayed in a list box change to a larger font size when a system window such as Control Panel is opened on top of the FoxPro application window. The 6 point font size returns when the system is shutdown and restarted but the font size changes again as soon as a system window is opened.

This behavior occurs when you are running FoxPro for Windows on a computer with Windows 95. The problem does not occur in FoxPro under the Windows NT operating system.

RESOLUTION

Do not use the Terminal font or any other screen font for text in a list box. Either use a TrueType font or upgrade the operating system to Windows NT.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this bug and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

FoxPro for Windows versions 2.6, 2.6a

1. Start FoxPro for Windows 2.6(a) under the Windows 95 operating system.

2. Use the Customer.dbf table in the FoxPro for Windows TUTORIAL subdirectory. The following command opens the table:

         USE HOME()+"Tutorial\Customer"
   

3. Create a new screen.

4. Add a list box that covers the entire width and height of the new screen. In the List dialog box, set the List Items to be From Field. Click the field button to open the expression builder. Enter the following expression (or similar string to display a large amount of text):

         company+contact+address+city+state+zip+phone+ono+cno
   

   For the variable for the list, type an x. Click OK to close the List dialog box.

5. With the list box selected, click the Font command from the Object menu. Select Terminal, regular 6, as the font for the list box.

6. Save the screen and name it Test.spr.

7. In the FoxPro Command window, type the following command:

         DO Test.spr
   

   The list box should be displaying properly with the Terminal 6 point font.

8. From the Windows 95 Start menu, select Settings and then click Control Panel.

9. Close Control Panel and activate FoxPro.

10. Click an item in the list box. The text changes to a larger, bold font. Click an item in the list box and drag the selection up and down the list box while the left mouse button is pressed. All the list box items change to a larger, bold font.

1. Start Visual FoxPro under the Windows 95 operating system.

2. Type the following code in the FoxPro Command window:

         SET DEFAULT TO HOME()+"SAMPLES\DATA"
   

3. Create a new program with the following code:

         USE customer SHARED
         DEFINE POPUP getpop ;
            PROMPT FIELD cust_id+company ;
               + contact + address ;
               + city + region ;
               + postalcode + phone ;
               + country + cust_id ;
               SCROLL
         DEFINE WINDOW XXX FROM 1,1 TO 50,100
         ACTIVATE WINDOW XXX
   
         @ 11,10 GET popit PICTURE "@&N" ;
            POPUP getpop SIZE 30.000,90.667 ;
            DEFAULT " " FONT "Terminal", 6 STYLE ""
   
         READ CYCLE
         CLEAR ALL
         *** end of program
   
   

4. Run the program. The items in the list box display with the correct font size.

5. From the Windows 95 Start menu, choose Settings, and then click Control Panel.

6. Close Control Panel and activate FoxPro.

7. Click an item in the list box. The text changes to a larger, bold font. Click an item in the list box and drag the selection up and down in the list box while the left mouse button is pressed. All the list items change to a larger, bold font.

The three scenarios are:

• Cannot make the font size change occur under any circumstances.
• The font size change happens before displaying the system window and never correctly displays the chosen font.
• The font size change does or does not occur depending upon whether the system window is closed or minimized.

REFERENCES

Microsoft FoxPro for Windows Help, 2.6x Help; search on: "Fonts"; Topic: "Interface Tips"

Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows Help; search on: "Fonts"; Topic: "Overview"

(c) Microsoft Corporation 1998, All Rights Reserved. Contributions by Perry Newton, Microsoft Corporation